A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta lands a £50m transfer boost and Bukayo Saka hails the influence Freddie Ljungberg had on building the winger’s career.
Bukayo Saka hails Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg’s influence
Hale End product Saka has hailed the influence Ljungberg had on the forward’s career whilst working in Arsenal’s academy. He served as a youth coach in the Gunners’ set-up from 2016 to 2017. Ljungberg also returned to the club as their Under-23 coach in the 2018/19 season.
A role with the first-team even beckoned for Ljungberg in 2019 as the Arsenal legend joined Unai Emery’s coaching staff. He even served as the Spaniard’s interim replacement before a seat in Arteta’s staff also followed until 2020. Ljungberg’s rise even also paired with Saka’s.
Emery handed Saka his senior debut in November 2018 and the forward has gone on to be a star. He has scored 47 and assisted 52 goals in 207 first-team appearances. But Saka points to working with Ljungberg as one of the biggest role models for his development as a youth.
“Freddie did push me a lot,” Saka has outlined to TNT Sports. “He did believe in me. When I got a bit older, maybe I was 16, he brought me all the way to the 23s. So, he gave me a lot of confidence and shortly after, he was made [the] interim coach and he pushed me again.
“It was really special for me, and I made sure I asked him a lot of questions! He played in my position so he had a lot of advice for me. It was a really nice moment to have him as a coach and learn from him.
“When I was that age because I was strong, every time I got the ball in front of goal I used to smash it. Freddie is the one who taught me to be more calm and finesse the ball. So, when you see me finishing the ball, part of that has come from Freddie.”
Read more about what Saka has had to say about Ljungberg’s influence, here.
BBC pundit praises Arsenal ace Declan Rice for ‘dominating’ Crystal Palace
BBC pundit Mark Warburton praised Arsenal star Declan Rice for ‘dominating’ Crystal Palace in Saturday’s Premier League fixture. The 25-year-old helped the Gunners claim a 5-0 win at home to the Eagles. But his afternoon would end early owing to a potential hamstring injury.
Rice delivered the corner from which Gabriel Magalhaes (11’) broke the deadlock. It was his second assist through 21 Premier League appearances under Arteta so far this season. But it was Rice’s ability to dictate the midfield battle that impressed Warburton in the early stages.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Rice is dominating the middle areas. Arsenal are getting runners in behind, particularly Havertz, and I think Roy Hodgson will be very concerned right now.”
Per WhoScored, Rice ranked second to only Oleksandr Zinchenko for touches (38 to 36), for attempted passes (34 to 31) and for accurate passes (30 to 29) in the early exchanges that impressed Warburton. Rice also finished Arsenal’s win with the second-most passes (52/57).
Read more about what Warburton said about Rice’s display against Crystal Palace, here.
Bournemouth boss admits he has ‘no power’ to keep Dominic Solanke
AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola admits he has ‘no power’ to keep Arsenal transfer target Dominic Solanke in January. But he hopes the striker Newcastle United also want is at Dean Court after the deadline having penned 43% of the Cherries’ 28 Premier League goals.
Solanke has scored 12 times through his 19 top-flight appearances so far this season to earn transfer interest from Arsenal. The Daily Star reports that Arteta views the 26-year-old as his No2 target, behind Ivan Toney of Brentford. But West Ham United are also eying his transfer.
The Cherries will consider selling Solanke for £50m despite their reluctance to let him leave in January. While The Telegraph has also noted that Newcastle approached Bournemouth to discuss a deal. And Iraola has fuelled their hopes for prising him away from the south coast.
“I don’t have any power,” Iraola stated, via quotes by the Daily Express. “We have an opinion [about keeping Solanke at Bournemouth] and there are always negotiations, and if someone meets the expectations of the club then…
“But the expectations are really high, so I don’t think that will be happening. I think Solanke will stay but I can’t guarantee 100%. He’s happy and performing well, and everyone is happy with him. It would take something unnatural for him to leave.”
Read more about what Bournemouth boss Iraola said about Solanke’s transfer, here.
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